Profile of the Day

On this day in 1891, radio star and actress Fanny Brice was born in Manhattan, New York. Known as the original “Funny Girl,” Brice entertained audiences for over four decades with her comedic chops, which made her one of America’s earliest female comedy superstars. Brice was born Fania Borach to Rose Stern, a Hungarian Jewish immigrant, and Charles Borach, an Alstatian immigrant. The third of four children, Brice got her start at the age of 13 after… Read the full story

Today we remember American suffragist and abolitionist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who died on this day in 1902 at the age of 86. A leading figure of the American women’s rights movement, Stanton’s activism played a crucial role towards the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guaranteed women the right to vote. Stanton was born on November 12, 1815 in Johnstown, New York to Daniel Cady, a prominent judge, and Margaret Livingston. Her maternal grandfather, James… Read the full story

Great Scott! Today actor Christopher Lloyd turns 80! Best known for portraying Doc Brown in the popular Back to the Future film trilogy, Lloyd has been entertaining audiences on the stage and screen for nearly six decades. Lloyd was born on October 22, 1938 in Stamford, Connecticut to Samuel R. Lloyd and Ruth Laphram. His maternal grandfather, Lewis Lepham, was one of the founders of Texaco Oil Company. Lloyd is also a direct descendant of Mayflower passenger, John Howland,… Read the full story

Did your ancestors fight in the American Revolutionary War? On this day in 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis formally surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively bringing an end to the American Revolution. Cornwallis was known as one of the leading British generals during the American Revolutionary War. A gifted strategist, Cornwallis was generally successful in battle. However, in October 1781, in what became known as the Siege of Yorktown, Cornwallis found his troops trapped. Surrounded by… Read the full story

Hollywood legend Rita Hayworth was born on October 17, 1918 in Brooklyn, New York. One of the top stars of the 1940s, Hayworth appeared in a total of 61 films throughout her long career. Margarita Carmen Dolores Cansino was the oldest child of two dancers. Her father, Eduardo Cansino, Sr., and her mother, Volga Hayworth, had performed with the Ziegfeld Follies. Her paternal grandfather, Antonio Cansino, was a renowned Spanish classical dancer. At the peak of… Read the full story

Happy 50th birthday to Hugh Jackman! The Australian star was born on October 12, 1968 in Sydney to Grace Greenwood and Christopher John Jackman. The youngest of five children, Jackman was 8 years old when his parents divorced. His mother left the family and moved to England, leaving Jackman and his siblings to be raised by his father in Australia. Jackman got his start in theater, starring in several musical productions on stage and parts on… Read the full story

Today we remember filmmaker Orson Welles, who died on this day in 1985 at the age of 70. George Orson Welles was born on May 6, 1915 in Kenosha, Wisconsin to Richard Head Welles, an inventor, and Beatrice Ives, a concert pianist. His parents separated when he was 4, and his mother died when he was 9. His father had made a fortune after inventing a popular bicycle lamp, but became an alcoholic and died of… Read the full story

On this day in 1822, Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States, was born. He was born in Delaware, Ohio to Sophia Richard and Rutherford Hayes, Jr., who died a few weeks before his birth. His great-grandfather, Ezekiel Hayes, was a militia captain during the American Revolutionary War. Hayes was a staunch abolitionist and during the Civil War, served in the Union Army. While still serving in the army, Hayes was elected to Congress… Read the full story

On this day in 1860, American artist Rembrandt Peale died at the age of 82. A prolific portrait painter, Peale was especially known for his realistic portraits of presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Peale was born on February 22, 1778 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania to Rachel Brewer and Charles Wilson Peale. His father was a notable artist best known for his portraits of leading figures of the American Revolution. The elder Peale named several of his children after… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Julie Andrews! Today the beloved star turns 83. Julie Andrews was born Julia Elizabeth Wells on October 1, 1935 in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England. When she was young, her parents divorced and remarried. She later adopted her stepfather’s surname, Andrews. By the age of 10, she began performing with her mother and stepfather on stage. Since making her Broadway debut in 1954, Andrews has starred as some of the most beloved musicals on both the… Read the full story

Do you remember browsing through the Sears catalog? On this day in 1914, Sears co-founder Richard Warren Sears died at the age of 50. His father, James Warren Sears, was a successful blacksmith and wagon-maker. After his death, Sears worked to help support his family. He learned telegraphy and started working as a telegraph operator and station agent for the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway. His life reached a turning point in 1886 when a shipment of… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to French royalty? On this day in 1601, Louis XIII was born at the Château de Fontainebleau. He reigned as the King of France from 1610 until his death in 1643. Louis XIII was the eldest child of King Henry IV and his wife, Maria de Medici. At the age of 9, Louis became the King of France after the assassination of his father in 1610. In the early years… Read the full story

Remember the story of Johny Appleseed? On this day in 1774, the real Johnny Appleseed was born. He was born John Chapman on September 26, 1774 in Leominster, Massachusetts. His father, Nathaniel Chapman, fought in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. In 1776, while his father was away at war, his mother died while giving birth to a son, who also passed short time later. As the folk story goes, Johnny Appleseed wandered barefoot with a tin… Read the full story

Remember watching Superman? Today we remember star Christopher Reeve on what would have been his 66th birthday. Reeve was born on September 25, 1952 in New York City, New York to Barbara Pitney Lamb and Franklin D’Olier Reeve. He grew up in a wealthy and well-educated family. His mother worked as a journalist and his father was a prominent writer, poet, and academic. His great grandfather, Franklin D’Olier, was a businessman and one of the original 20 men who formed… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood growing up? On this day in 1967, the beloved children’s television show starring Fred Rogers taped its very first episode. The popular show would run for 31 seasons and produce nearly 900 episodes. Although he studied to become an ordained minister, Rogers’s career took an unexpected turn into television after returning home to find his parents had purchased a brand new TV. Disappointed with the programs available to viewers, Rogers saw there was… Read the full story

On this day in 1881, President James A. Garfield died of complications from a gunshot wound he received on July 2, 1881. Garfield served as the 20th President of the United States and holds the distinction of being the second U.S. President in history to be assassinated. Garfield was born on November 19, 1831 in a log cabin in Orange, Ohio. The youngest of five children, Garfield grew up in poverty. His father died when… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to Danish royalty? On this day in 1786, Christian VIII, King of Denmark, was born at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen. He was the eldest son of Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway and Duchess Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. His paternal grandfather was King Frederick V of Denmark and Norway. In 1814, Christian was elected as the King of Norway and ruled under the name Christian Frederick. However, his reign was… Read the full story

Are you a country music fan? On this day in 1923, country music’s first superstar, Hank Williams, was born. Although his career was cut short after his death at the age of 29, Williams is often regraded as one of the most influential singers and songwriters of the 20th century. Williams was born Hiram King Williams on September 17, 1923 in Mount Olive, Alabama to Jessie Lillybelle Skipper and Elonzo Huble Williams. His father was drafted during… Read the full story

On this day in 1814, Francis Scott Key penned the poem that would later become the lyrics to the United States’ national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Key was born on August 1, 1779 at the family plantation in Maryland. His father was a lawyer, a judge and an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. During the War of 1812, Key witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British forces while aboard the British… Read the full story

Last night, musician and artist John Legend became the first African American male and the youngest person to achieve EGOT status. Legend, along with Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, won an Emmy for Outstanding Live Variety Special for Jesus Christ Superstar, Live in Concert at the Creative Arts Emmys. They are now among just 15 individuals who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards. Legend was one of the executive producers and star of the… Read the full story

On this day in 1936, music legend Buddy Holly was born in Lubbock, Texas. A pioneering figure of 1950s rock and roll, Holly’s short career would go on to inspire many future generations of artists. Holly was born Charles Hardin Holley on September 7, 1936 to Lawrence Odell Holley and Ella Pauline Drake. The fourth and youngest child in the family, Holly was given the nicknamed “Buddy” by his mother, who thought that his given name was too big… Read the full story

On this day in 1638, Louis XIV was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye to Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. As soon as he ascended to the throne, Louis XIV took steps to consolidate his power and establish his absolute authority. He would become one of the longest reigning monarchs in European history. During his reign, Louis built the Palace of Versailles, an opulent palace that posed as a symbol of Louis’s centralized power. Although he… Read the full story

Today we remember Princess Diana, who passed away on this day 21 years ago. She was born on July 1, 1961 in Park House, Sandringham, Norfolk and was the fourth of five children born to John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, and Frances Roche. Her family had been closely allied with the British Royal Family for several generations. Both of her grandmothers served as ladies in waiting to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Diana grew up on the… Read the full story

Today we remember Senator John McCain, who passed away on August 25 at the age of 81. An American war hero and U.S Senator, McCain is remembered for staying true to his principles and his lifetime of service to the country. McCain was born on August 29, 1936 at Coco Solo Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal Zone. In 1958, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy, following in the footsteps of his father and… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary singer Aretha Franklin, who has passed away at the age of 76. Dubbed the “Queen of Soul,” Franklin is regarded as one of the greatest singers of all time. Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March 25, 1942 in Memphis Tennessee. Her father, C.L. Franklin, was a Baptist minister, and her mother, Barbara Siggers, was an accomplished piano player and vocalist. Her parents had a troubled marriage and they separated in 1948. Her mother died in 1952,… Read the full story

Today we remember award winning writer V.S. Naipaul, who passed away earlier this week on August 11 at the age of 85. He was born Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul on August 17, 1932 in Trinidad and Tobago to Seepersad Naipaul and Droapatie Capildeo. His father was also a writer and worked as a journalist for the Trinidad Guardian. His paternal grandparents had emigrated from India to work as indentured servants on a sugar plantation. Naipaul’s mother was a member of the Capildeo… Read the full story

What’s your favorite Alfred Hitchcock film? On this day in 1899, the legendary filmmaker was born in London, England. Hitchcock was the youngest of three children born to William Hitchcock and Emma Jane Wheland. At the age of 5, Hitchcock’s father once sent him to the local police station with a note asking the officer to lock him up in a cell for a few minutes for behaving badly. For the rest of his life,… Read the full story

On this day in 1903, renowned paleoanthropologist and archaeologist Louis Leakey was born. Remembered for his fossil discoveries in Africa, Leakey’s paleoanthropological work would significantly impact our understanding of human evolution. Leakey was born Louis Seymour Bazett Leakey on August 7, 1903 in what is today Kenya. He was the son of British missionaries and grew up among the Kikuyu people. Growing up in Africa, Leakey had a lifelong passion for the study of human evolution…. Read the full story

On this day in 1881, Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming was born. Fleming is best remembered for discovering penicillin. His accidental find would become one of the most important discoveries in the history of science. Fleming was born on August 6, 1881 at Lochfield farm near Darvel, Scotland. He was the third of four children born to Hugh Fleming, a farmer, and his second wife, Grace Stirling Morton. Fleming spent four years working at a shipping office before attending medical… Read the full story

Do you have a connection to Norwegian royalty? On this day in 1872, Haakon VII of Norway was born. Regarded as one of the greatest Norwegians of the 20th century, Haakon VII is one of the few monarchs in history to have been elected to the throne. The Norwegian king was born Christian Frederick Carl Georg Valdemar Axel on August 3, 1872 in Denmark at Charlottenlund Palace near Copenhagen. Before becoming the King of Norway,… Read the full story

On this day in 1876, Wild Bill Hickok, one of the most famous gunfighters of the American Wild West, was killed while playing a game of poker. He was shot in the back of the head by Jack McCall. “Wild Bill” was born James Butler Hickok on May 27, 1837 in Homer, Illinois. An outstanding marksman from a young age, Hickok gained notoriety when news spread of his role during the McCanles Massacre in 1861 in Rock… Read the full story

Today we celebrate the 200th birthday of pioneering astronomer Maria Mitchell! Mitchell is best remembered for discovering a new comet, which became known as “Miss Mitchell’s Comet.” She is often recognized as the first professional female astronomer in the United States. Mitchell was born on August 1, 1818 in Nantucket, Massachusetts. The third of ten children, Mitchell grew up in a family of Quakers. Her father was a school teacher and encouraged Mitchell’s interest in astronomy… Read the full story

Happy birthday, J.K. Rowling! Today the Harry Potter author turns 53. The day also marks Harry Potter’s birthday! On July 31, 1965, Joanne Rowling was born in Yate, Gloucestershire, England. She later adopted the pen name “J.K. Rowling,” incorporating her paternal grandmother’s name, Kathleen, for the second initial. From a young age, Rowling frequently wrote stories of fantasy. When she began writing the first Harry Potter book, Rowling was a single mother and struggling financially. However, her… Read the full story

On this day in 1920, pioneering scientist Rosalind Franklin was born. Although her work was not recognized during her lifetime, James Watson and Francis Crick’s discovery of the chemical structure of DNA would not have been possible without Franklin’s groundbreaking research. Franklin was born on July 25, 1920 in London, England to an influential Jewish family. Her great uncle, Herbert Samuel, was a prominent politician and served as Home Secretary in 1916. As child, Franklin had a… Read the full story

On this day in 1783, Venezuelan military leader and politician Simón Bolívar was born. Called “The Liberator,” Bolívar was instrumental in Latin America’s successful struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire. Bolívar was born into a wealthy family in a house in Caracas, Captaincy General of Venezuela on July 24, 1783. Before the age of ten, Bolivar had lost both of his parents. His father died when he was three and his mother passed away six years… Read the full story

Do you have Norwegian ancestry? On this day in 1872, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen was born in Borge, Østfold, Norway. Amundsen was born into a family of shipowners and captains and had a lifelong desire for polar exploration. One of the key figures of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, Amundsen was the first explorer to reach the South Pole. He gained invaluable knowledge for his journey in the Antarctic from his earlier expedition traversing the… Read the full story

Was anyone in your family tree a passenger on the RMS Titanic? On this day in 1864, Titanic passenger John Jacob Astor IV was born in Rhinebeck, New York. At the time of his death on the doomed luxury ship, Astor was considered one of the richest men in the world. Astor was born into the prominent Astor family. His great grandfather, John Jacob Astor, was a German immigrant and made his fortune by building a fur trading… Read the full story

Do you remember reading Charlotte’s Web? On this day in 1899, author E.B. White was born in Mount Vernon, New York. The youngest child of Samuel Tilly White and Jessie Hart White, Elwyn Brooks White was the couple’s sixth child. He hated the name “Elwyn,” spent most of his life going by the nickname “Andy.” His older brother, Stanley Hart White, was a professor of Landscape Architecture and inventor of the Vertical Garden. He was a very… Read the full story

On July 6, 1921, former First Lady Nancy Reagan was born. She was the wife of Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, and spent her years at the White House as an advocate for decreasing drug and alcohol abuse. Although known as “Nancy” throughout her life, she was born Anne Frances Robbins in Manhattan, New York to Kenneth Seymour Robbins, a farmer and car salesman, and Edith Prescott Luckett, a film and… Read the full story

On this day in 1883, author Franz Kafka was born in Prague in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The eldest of six children, Kafka grew up in a middle-class, German-speaking, Jewish family. His two younger brothers died in infancy, leaving him as the only son in the family. Though Kafka died several years before World War II, his three sisters would go on to perish during the Holocaust. Kafka showed an interest in writing at an early age, however, his work attracted little… Read the full story

On this day in 1698, English inventor and engineer Thomas Savery received the patent for the first steam engine. His invention would lead to the first commercially used steam powered engine. Savery was born to a prominent family in England in 1650. Known to have an interest in engineering, mathematics, and invention, Savery became a military engineer and invented various types of devices. In 1698, he patented an early steam engine that provided a new method for pumping water… Read the full story

On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian nationalist during an official visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia. His assassination sparked a chain of events that would lead to the beginning of World War I. Ferdinand was the eldest son of Princess Maria Annunciata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria, who was the younger brother of Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria, and Maximilian… Read the full story

Today we remember author, activist, and lecturer Helen Keller, who was born on June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Helen Adams Keller spent her childhood living at her family’s homestead, Ivy Green, which was built by her grandfather in 1820. Born physically normal, Keller did not lose her sight or hearing until she was 19 months old due to an illness. Although her health recovered, the illness left her deaf and blind for the rest of her life. Unable to see, hear… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Ariana Grande! Today the popular singer turns 25. She was born Ariana Grande-Butera on June 26, 1993 in Boca Raton, Florida to Joan Grande and Edward Burtera. Her parents separated while she was a child. Grande has Italian ancestry through both of her parents and has described herself as half Abruzzesse and half Sicilian. Her ancestors were born in Italy before making their way to the United States. Much of her Sicilian ancestry on the paternal side… Read the full story

Remember reading Nineteen Eighty-Four? On this day in 115 years ago, author George Orwell was born. Orwell is often considered one of the most influential voices of the 20th century. The author was born Eric Arthur Blair on June 25, 1903 in Motihari, Bihar, British India. His father, Richard Walmesley Blair, worked in the Opium Department of the Indian Civil Service. At the age of one, his mother took him and his sisters to England. Better known by his… Read the full story

Happy birthday to the Duke of Cambridge! Today Prince William turns 36. The Duke of Cambridge was born on June 21, 1982 at St. Mary’s Hospital in London. The Prince was the first royal heir to be born in a hospital. Since then, all three of his children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, were also born at the same hospital as their father. The tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana, when he… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to a Titanic passenger? On this day in 1863, English fashion designer and survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster Lady Lucy Duff-Gordon was born. She was considered one of the leading fashion designers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Lady Duff-Gordon was born Lucy Christiana Sutherland on June 13, 1863 in London, England to Douglas Sutherland, a civil engineer, and Elinor Sounders. After her first marriage, Lady Duff-Gordon began working as a dressmaker… Read the full story

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank Today we remember Anne Frank, who was born on this day 89 years ago. Annelies Marie Frank was born on June 12, 1929 in Frankfurt, Germany to Otto and Edith Frank. The family lived in Frankfurt until Anne was five. In 1933, the family fled to Amsterdam after the Nazi party came to power. On her… Read the full story

On this day in 1909, American obstetrical anesthesiologist Virginia Apgar was born. Known as the inventor of the Apgar score, Apgar is credited with saving the lives of millions of newborn babies. Apgar was born on June 7, 1909 in Westfield, New Jersey. She developed her interest in science partly from her father, who was an amateur astronomer and inventor. In 1949, Apgar became the first woman to become a full professor at the Columbia University College of… Read the full story

Today we remember Robert F. Kennedy on the 50th anniversary of his assassination. After winning the California presidential primary, Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968. He would succumb to his wounds 26 hours later. Kennedy was the seventh child born to Joseph Kennedy, Sr. And Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. During his brother’s presidency, Kennedy served as the Attorney General of the United States and was one… Read the full story